Spark timer



' 1 632 413 June 14, 1927. A R. Most-ER n SPARK TIMER Filed June 10. 1924 I avwwt 95 M a um/W1 4 i, at)

Patented June 14, 1927.

UNITED STATES ARTHUR B. MOSLER,

SPARK Application filed June 10,

One object of my invention is to provide improvements in the spark timer casing, whereby an annular series of strips of oil impregnated material may be disposed alternately with the annular series of contacts, so that the contact element on the rotary shaft will successively wipe said strips and con tacts, to keep the parts well oiled and free from frictional wear.

Another object of my invention is to provide .a reversible contact element for the retary shaft, so that when one part of the element becomes worn, the element may be reversed to present an unworn part for wiping engagement with the contacts carried by the casing.

A further object is to provide certain in prov ments in the construction, form and arrangement ofthe several parts of the spark timer, whereby its efiiciency is materially increased and its cost of production decreased.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 represents the spark timer in front elevation, a portion of the timer casing being broken away to more clearly illustrate the parts back of the same.

Fig. 2 represents a section taken in the plane of the line 11-11 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a back elevation of the spark timer, certain of the parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate the parts back of the same.

Fig. 4: represents a detail section taken in the plane of the line IV-IV of Fig. 1.

The spark timer casing 1 may be of any well known or approved form and is preferably stamped from sheet metal. The in terior of this casing is provided with anannular series of contacts 2, in the present instance four, electrically connected to the binding posts 3, projecting exterior to the casing. Each of these contacts is preferably formed by bending a short fiat strip of metal backupon'itself, to produce a double thickness of metal, held in place by the binding post screws. These contacts may be hardened and may be of a different metal than the binding posts, (such, for instance, as an alloy of maganese nickel, or chrome nickel, or phosphor bronze) which will eliminate sparking and burning and consequent undue wear. These contacts are shaped to a predetermined form before assembly, thus eliminating any machining after assembly.

or new roan, n. Y,

TIMER.

1924. Serial No. 719,077,

This casing is provided with a pair of spaced rings 1 and 5 of insulating material, such as hard libre, the inner edges of which ring; are substantially flush with the wiping faces of the contacts 2. An annular series of strips 6 of oil impregnated material, such as felt, alternate with the annular series of contacts 2 and are located between the rings and 5, with their inner faces substantially flush with the wiping edges of the said rings.

The means for rotatively adjusting the casincludes the spark advance lever arm 7, metal, having the ends of its lateral branches 8, 9, passed through the walls of the casing and upset for riveting the said lever arm to the casing. An oil hole 10 is pr 'ded through the casing and lever arm, winch hole is opened and closed by a cover 11, which is hinged to the arm by means of an eyelet 12, forming a hollow rivet.

The rotary shaft 13 of the timer is provided with a reversible contact element arranged, in its rotary movement, to wipe said contacts, strips of oil impregnated material and rings.

The said reversible contact element may be constructed and mounted as follows:

A sleeve 14:, formed from a strip of sheet metal, nay be removably secured on the shaft 13 by the lock pin 15, cap 16 and nut 1?, which sleeve is provided with a divided arm,one branch 18 of which is developed into an eye 19 and the other branch 20 of which is turned laterally to provide a stop 21.

The reversible contact element 22 may be cast or sheet metal having its wiping surfaces of a spark eliminating material such, for instance, as an alloy of manganese nickel, or chrome nickel, or phosphor bronze. This contact element is provided with sides 23, 24; having two pairs of holes 25, 26 adjacent the ends of the element. A pin 27 may be inserted through the eye 19 in one branch of the divided arm of the sleeve and through one pair of the alined holes 25 or 26, in the sides of the contact element, for pivoting the element to the said arm, a cotter pin 28 or other suitable device being provided for removably securing the pivot pin 27 in position.

The spring means which I have shown for pressing the contact element outwardly into wiping engagement with the contacts of the casing is as follows:

A follower 29 has a limited sliding movement in the stop 21 of the branch 20 of the divided arm,- the outer end of which follower presses against the inner face of the contact element, the inner end of said follower being engaged by a coil spring 80, extending between the follower and the sleeve 14; a lug 31 being preferably struck from the sleeve to act in conjunction with the follower 29, to retain the spring in position.

It will be seen that when one wiping surface of the contact element 22 becomes unduly worn, the pivot pin 27 may be removed, the element reversed and the pivot pin again replaced, thus presenting a new wearing surface and materially prolonging the life of the contact element; this change being accon'rplished without disturbing the other parts of the timer.

It will also be observed that by providing the strips of oil impregnated material, I am enable-d to keep the wiping surfaces of the contacts well oiled and the wiping surface of the reversible contact element clean, so as to make a perfect electrical contact. t will also be seen that by providing the spaced rings of insulating material a very inexpensive form of bridging the spaces between the casing contacts is provided and, at the same time, suitable recesses are pro vided for the reception of the strips of oil impregnated material.

it is evident that various changes may be resorted to in the materials, construction, form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence, I do not wish to be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown and described, but

\Vhat I claim is 1. In a spark timer, a casing having one or more contacts, a rotary shaft, a sleeve carried thereby having a divided arm, one branch being developed into an eye and the other branch into a stop, a reversible contact element, a removable pin engaging said eye and also the element at one of two points, for pivoting the trailing portion of the element to the arm, and a spring pressing the element outwardly.

2. In a spark timer, a casing having one or more contacts, a rotary shaft, a sleeve carried thereby having a divided arm, one branch being developed into an eye and the other branch into a stop, a reversible contact element, a removable pin engaging said eye and also the element at one of two points, for pivotii the element to the arm, a foll or having a limited sliding movement in stop and engaging said element, and a spring exerting outward pressure on the a railing portion of the said element, through said follower.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signed my name this 25rd day of April, 1924.

ARTHUR R. MOSLER. 

